Exclusive: The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" Turns 50

Motor Trend takes a historic Mercedes on a trip down memory lane, as well as on a high-speed cruise on the German Autobahn

Above: Mercedes-Benz graciously allowed the author to borrow this original 1954 300 SL worth more than $400,000 for a retrospective driving evaluation.

Driving Impression: 50 Years LaterTo mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz graciously allowed Motor Trend to borrow the keys to an original 1954 300 SL for a retrospective driving evaluation. Driving such a legend on any road would be privilege, but we had the unique opportunity to drive through Germany's famed Black Forest known for its fast, curved roads as well as its overall stunning visual beauty.

Although nervous about driving such a desirable collector, Mercedes insisted that we drive the SL like a sports car should be driven--aggressively. Such opportunity was extraordinary, but regardless, the $400,000 replacement cost weighed heavily in our minds. Our drive started out mildly as we got a feel for the Gullwing as we left Stuttgart. The SL was a surprisingly nice driver, but we were more concerned with surrounding traffic as the nearby commuters aggressively merged in/out all around us. We were happy to finally get off the main highway as our trip turned towards Rottenburg. After some sightseeing and coffee at the historic Weitenburg Castle, we ventured off onto backcountry roads that took us through Oberndorf, Schramberg, and Wolfach. The further we traveled, the more interesting (and aggressive) the roads became.

David Douglas Duncan at dinner just before he told his "Which is your favorite finger" story.

What began as a timid drive increasingly became a spirited run as the 50 year old Gullwing proved amazingly competent despite occasional squeals from its vintage 6.50-15 Supersport tires. Our first day's drive ended at the Hotel Bareiss in the small town of Mitteltal (near Freudenstadt) and concluded with a dinner with world famous photographer David Douglas Duncan and Claude Picasso (son of the famous artist Pablo). For 40 years, Duncan used his own black Gullwing to travel throughout Europe for his myriad assignments. Duncan's SL is said to be the highest mileage Gullwing in existence and still is driven by its new owner--Claude Picasso. (See the sidebar on page 5 for the history on Duncan's car.) During dinner I asked Duncan, "After years of photography, is there one photo that stands out as your favorite...whether or not it was your most well known photo?" Duncan replied, "That's an interesting question and I'll give you this answer as years ago I asked Pablo Picasso the same question." After a short pause and a smile, Duncan opened his right hand and put it an inch from my face. Duncan continued, "And Picasso held up his hand just like this and asked me...David, if you could only choose one, which would be your favorite finger?" Obviously, all of Duncan's (and Picasso's) work was memorable and too difficult to rank.The next day's drive proved to be even more enjoyable. The Black Forest roads became increasingly more technical, with copious switchback corners, steep inclines, and was replete with amazing vistas. The "M 198" 3.0-liter inline six-cylider engine proved to be quite torquey and effortlessly revved to 6000 rpm. Of the drivetrain, the original four-speed manual transmission was the weakest link as early-design gear synchronizers forced the driver to execute calculated shifts with an need for "heel and toe" footwork on high-speed downshifts. On a few occasions the SL's rear suspension with swing axle and simple shocks gave a scare with mid-corner unloading (a well-documented condition that was later fixed on SL Roadsters), which again caused us to remember the Gullwing's lofty replacement cost. With that said, overall the SL gave little indication of exceeded limits, and as our confidence level continued to build, the Gullwing was pushed even harder as we exited the Black Forest and sped towards Baden-Baden. A few long straight roads provided the opportunity to wind out the W 198 engine, thus generating an exhilarating rush as we saw the speedo needle climb to 230 km/h (140+ mph). Frankly, on many occasions the SL was travelling quicker than what we'd likely be doing in a modern car, which is an indication of just how dominant the SL was 50 years ago (in its day the Gullwing conquered Le Mans, Nurburgring, and other races).

The "M 198" inline six-cylinder engine produced 215 horsepower at 5800 rpm. The engine was mounted at a slant in the 300 SL to generate proper clearance for the low-profile hood.

Without a doubt the most nervous part of the drive was the last bit that involved entering Stuttgart during heavy rush hour traffic. As motorists sped by they dodged and weaved precariously close to our rolling museum piece, and many an accident nearly occurred when rubber-neckers slowed to give a thumb's up and a honk of the horn. Clearly, even 50 years later, the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing continues to be THE car that Germans are most proud of as indicated by its ranking as "Sports Car of the Century" and evidenced by crowds it drew every time we stopped.